Hamas and Islamic Jihad Resume Communications

Islamic Jihad and Hamas resume communications, three days after Jihad severed ties with Hamas.

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Elad Benari, 27/06/13 06:44

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The Islamic Jihad and Hamas terror movements in Gaza on Wednesday resumed communications, three days after Jihad severed ties with Hamas, following the death of one of its members at the hands of police officers.

Jihad spokesman Daoud Shihab told the Bethlehem-based Ma'an news agency that full contact between both groups was resumed after a Hamas delegation visited the home of Jihad leader Muhammad Harazein to apologize for an alleged assault during the funeral of a slain Jihad member.

Islamic Jihad claimed that Harazein was hit by a jeep driven by a Hamas member during the funeral procession for Raed Qassim Jundeyeih, a Jihad terrorist killed a day earlier in a shootout with Hamas police forces.

Hamas's interior ministry commissioned an inquiry into Jundeyeih's death following the incident, reported Ma’an.

Senior Islamic Jihad leader Khalid al-Batsh said the rift between the two movements was healed after a series of good will measures by Hamas including the investigation committee, the apology to Harazein and a telephone call by Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh to Islamic Jihad secretary-general Ramadan Shallah.

Al-Batsh said it was agreed to try the officers involved in the killing of Jundiya according to Islamic law.

On Sunday, Islamic Jihad had claimed that Hamas killed Jundeyeih's as a "favor" for Israel, whether intentional or not.

On the same day that Islamic Jihad cut off its ties with Hamas, terrorists from Gaza fired at least seven rockets at southern Israel, causing no physical injuries or damages.

Analysts speculated that the rocket attacks were directly connected to the row between Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and may have been a “flexing of muscles” aimed at sending a message to Hamas from the Islamic Jihad.